FAQs

Can you please assist me in finding a job in Saudi Arabia?

No, I’m not hooked up like that. My niche on this blog is focusing on non-Saudi/Saudi couples and life in Saudi Arabia. This is a marriage blog but not a matrimonial blog. See the next question. Tara Umm Omar

Can you refer me to a wasta?

I am sorry, I do not have a wasta. Tara Umm Omar

Do you help arrange marriages?

No I don’t. Tara Umm Omar

My Saudi partner married a Philipino woman whom he divorced. Is a Saudi man allowed to marry a non-Saudi woman for the second time?

Yes, a Saudi Muslim man can marry.up to four women. But if a Saudi man is already married to a non-Saudi and has received the Saudi marriage permission approval once, then its hard to get the permission to marry another non-Saudi as the second/third/fourth wife unless they have a wasta. However if your husband is divorced with proof and has no other wife, then he can marry a non-Saudi. His divorce will help him get the marriage permission quicker insha’Allah. Tara Umm Omar

I am married to a Saudi and live in Saudi Arabia with our children. I want a divorce but my husband refuses to give me custody of our children. What happens if I stay here with the children after divorce? Who would be my guardian? Can I still live here even after divorce? Do I need to have Saudi citzenship to make it easier?

If you stay in KSA after the divorce, your husband will no longer be your sponsor and you will lose your iqamah. He will also take you off of the family card and you will be deported without your children. In the majority of the cases, the judges here rule in the favor of the father to have custody of the children and that is especially if the mother is a non-Saudi. If your husband is unmerciful and doesn’t fear Allah, he can keep you from seeing your children forever.

If you get a job, the employer can transfer you to their sponsorship but you must exit and re-enter KSA in order to get a new visa. That does not guarantee you will always be able to stay in the country or get to see your children.

If you get Saudi citizenship then you will be subjected to Saudi laws. If you have male guardians here in KSA that can grant you permission to travel in and out of Saudi Arabia then that is great. It still will not guarantee that you can see your children or get custody of them. You may have more rights than a non-Saudi woman but you will still have to prove your case in court. A lot of Saudi mothers are suffering because their husbands either leave them hanging without divorcing them AND taking the children or they make them pay huge sums of money for a divorce and still take the children or they divorce them and may or may not take the children and share custody. I hope your case would be the last insha’Allah.

I am sorry to say it but children are used as pawns in divorces worldwide, not just in KSA. The difference is that here, the laws are on the side of Saudi men. For the sake of your children, you really need to decide if divorce is really worth losing them.

I recommend that you consult a shaykh and make istikhara. Tara Umm Omar

I do not want to reside in Saudi Arabia but I would like to visit my Saudi husband’s family. If I apply for a family visit visa, will providing a United States marriage certificate be sufficient?

I can give you some scenarios of what could happen but keep in mind that every person’s situation is unique: 1) If you go to the Saudi Embassy and ask them to authenticate your US marriage certificate, they may ask you for a copy of your Saudi marriage permission approval. 2) If they authenticate your US marriage certificate without asking you for a copy of your Saudi marriage permission, you can try to apply for a family visit visa. But they may tell you that you need the Saudi marriage permission approved before you can apply for any Saudi visa. Tara Umm Omar

I would like to go on umrah with my Saudi husband and our children as well as visit my husband’s family in Saudi Arabia. We do not have the Saudi marriage permission approval so my husband is not considered my mahram and thus our umrah visa was rejected. Is there any way around this rule?

My husband and I have been down this road before our marriage permission was approved…we tried just about everything and they were dead ends. I suggest that you go to Bahrain or any of the other nearby countries and meet your husband’s family there. I regret to say that umrah would not be an option for you unless you have a Muslim mahram or get your marriage permission approved. Tara Umm Omar

I am married to a Saudi and we have been trying to get our marriage permission approved for a long time with no success. Do you know a wasta that can help us? Do you know anyone that would accept a bribe?

If we knew a lot of people like you think we do, then we would have our marriage certificate, my iqamah and my son’s Saudi passport. Everything is in Allah’s hands. Too many people have gotten burned by giving bribes. A wasta with a good heart and love of Allah, would use his/her influence to help you without taking any money. Sometimes we shouldn’t force the issue. We may not understand the hukm (wisdom) behind why the marriage permission is taking a while to be approved or even rejected. We will never know until it is revealed to us from Allah and sometimes it never will be! So just put your trust in Allah and use your weapon…DU’A. Tara Umm Omar

I am a Muslimah from the Philippines working here in Saudi Arabia. I have been separated for a number of years and now in a relationship with a single Saudi man. He is keeping me a secret from his family. Is it possible for us to get married?

1. If you are separated from your husband and not divorced, under Islamic law, it is not allowed to marry again until you have divorced your legal husband. May I also add that it is not allowed for you to be involved in a non-marital relationship with a Saudi while residing in Saudi Arabia. There can be dire consequences if you are caught by Saudi police or the PVPV (aka Hai’a or morals police). If found guilty, punishment for unmarried violators could include jail time, flogging, fining and deportation of the non-Saudi. Punishment for married violators can range from all of the above including stoning. 2. Red flags go up because this Saudi is keeping your relationship a secret from his family. That is not a good sign and you should be cautious of him. It usually means that he knows his family would not approve of you. 3. Once you secure a divorce from your first husband and have proof of that, the Saudi would have to apply for the marriage permission at the Ministry of Interior. After it is approved, only then can he marry you. Tara Umm Omar

I am a Pakistani working in Saudi Arabia. I have been involved with a Saudi female for quite some time now. I asked her father for her hand but he refused to give her to me in marriage because I am not Saudi. Can we take legal action against her father?

I am sorry to hear this. Unfortunately it is a very common occurrence for a Saudi father to not allow his daughter to marry a non-Saudi man. Perhaps your Saudi has another mahram who is willing to give her away in marriage if the father would not protest or cause harm. Your Saudi should also go to the Saudi Human Rights office and complain. Another option is for her to take her case to court and ask the judge to marry her. There was a judge in the Saudi city of Onaiza who married a Saudi woman to a non-Saudi woman despite the objections of her family. More and more judges are acting as the guardians of women whose muharam refuse to let them marry the person of their choice. The ball is in your Saudi’s court, she has to be the one to initiate the legal proceedings. Tara Umm Omar

I am considering a misyar marriage. Can you please advise me?

It is not something that I would want for myself, my daughter, my sister, my mother or my aunt but to each his own. If it is a mutual agreement and you want to waive some of your marriage rights, it is between you and Allah. But please make sure that the man is an honest person and this goes for any kind of marriage. He should be thoroughly investigated by you and your wali/wakeel. Tara Umm Omar

If a Saudi is in the military, is it possible to get married with a non-Saudi?

Military officials are part of the Saudi government personnel who are not allowed to marry non-Saudis. In exceptional cases, this rule may be waived if the Saudi resigns from his post/job or gets special permission from King Abdullah. Tara Umm Omar

How can a non-Saudi couple get married in Saudi Arabia?

I think you should go to your country’s embassy located in the Diplomatic Quarters (DQ) in Riyadh (or Dhahran or Jeddah) and get information on your particular nationality’s marriage procedures for marrying in Saudi Arabia. You may also go to the Saudi Embassy in your native country and get information on “a non-Saudi permanent resident marrying a non-Saudi and eventually bringing the non-Saudi spouse to live in Saudi Arabia”. Cover all of your bases! Tara Umm Omar

Is the Saudi marriage permission a necessity?

The Saudi marriage permission approval is required BEFORE marriage. It is needed whether you and your Saudi will reside in Saudi Arabia in the future or anywhere else in the world. Should you decide to live in Saudi Arabia AFTER the marriage permit has been approved and you are married, your husband will request that the papers be sent to the Saudi Embassy in your native country (or whichever country you choose) and only then you can apply for a family visa. Once you receive the family visa, you can travel to Saudi Arabia and your husband has to transfer your visa to an iqamah before it expires in 3 months or get an extension until he can get your iqamah. Tara Umm Omar

Do all Saudis have to get the marriage permission approval?

Every Saudi has to get permission to marry a non-Saudi except those countries who are members of the GCC: Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Morocco and Jordan. Tara Umm Omar

Does the Saudi government accept marriages conducted in foreign countries?

The Saudi government will not recognize any marriage that was contracted without its permission. If a marriage occurs that is not sanctioned by the Saudi government, the Saudi may as well be single and their marital status will not be changed to reflect “married” on the family card. Tara Umm Omar

Can Saudis marry non-Saudis?

A Saudi is free to marry whomever they wish as long as they have the marriage permission approved. Tara Umm Omar

Can the non-Saudi spouse and children of a Saudi visit Saudi Arabia?

If a Saudi has a spouse and children without the Saudi marriage permission being approved, their families can not have a visa to visit Saudi Arabia or live in the country. Tara Umm Omar

How can getting the Saudi marriage permission be made easier?

30 is the age where obtaining the marriage permission is “easier”. If they are disabled, sick or divorced from a Saudi (and can prove it), this also makes it “easier” for them to be approved. Tara Umm Omar

What are the chances that a Saudi marriage permission will be approved?

I do not want to sugar coat my answer so I am going to be blunt with you: if your Saudi doesn’t have the qualifications I listed in answer #6, indeed the Saudi marriage permission would appear bleak. It depends on various factors: the mood of the people who handle your file, wasta, bribery, etc. However you should not be dissuaded from applying as it is in Allah’s hands. You will never know what happens unless you try. Tara Umm Omar

Should we get the Saudi marriage permission if my Saudi wants to live in my country for a short amount of time before we move to Saudi Arabia together?

If your Saudi plans to settle in Saudi Arabia after a few years in your country, he definitely needs to apply for the marriage permission. Do it right from the beginning or you may encounter numerous problems down the road that are a headache to rectify. Families have been separated or torn apart because of this so plan well. Tara Umm Omar

Can my Saudi obtain the Saudi marriage permission after we are married in a foreign country?

There are some couples who have received the marriage permission approval after being married (and after children) but I can’t in good conscious, recommend this. It is too risky and can involve frustrations and heartache. Tara Umm Omar

Does my Saudi need help from his family in order to apply for the Saudi marriage permission?

Your Saudi should go to the Ministry of Interior and apply for the marriage permission in person himself. If it is difficult, he may have to have the help of his family to network for wasta in order to get the permission approved quicker. Also, if his Saudi family accepts you then that is great. If they don’t and he still wants to marry you, that is great too! But you need to know that a Saudi’s family is very important to them and they rarely go against their wishes. Tara Umm Omar

How long does it take for the Saudi marriage permission to be approved?

I can’t put a number on it. Everyone’s situation is unique, some get it approved quick, some after a long time has past and others never get approved at all. Tara Umm Omar

I am a non-Saudi woman married to a Saudi (we had a civil ceremony). I work in Saudi Arabia while he studies abroad in another country. Can we live together as a couple in Saudi Arabia if the Saudi Embassy just stamps our marriage certificate? If my husband gives me power of attorney, can I apply for the marriage permission in Saudi Arabia on his behalf?

In order to live with your husband legally in KSA, you must have the marriage permission approved. Getting the marriage permission authenticated at the Saudi Embassy is just one part of the whole process. It just means that they are testifying that the marriage certificate is acceptable to them. It does not gain you a visa to KSA. And I really don’t know if they would authenticate your marriage certificate if you do not have the marriage permission approved but I guess you could try. But please be careful with the way you go about it because presenting a marriage certificate to the Saudi Embassy without being approved for the marriage permission tells them that you got married without having permission first.

The marriage permission application should be initiated at the emarah in your husband’s city and at some point the Ministry Of Interior by a Saudi man or a Saudi woman’s mahram. I doubt the Saudi government would accept a non-Saudi woman to do this irregardless of whether she has power of attorney. Additionally I think if you decide to go, they would most likely ask you where is your mahram. If you want to try it, it is up to you. But my strong suggest would be that your husband must return to Riyadh and take care of it him because it is his responsibility alone. Tara Umm Omar

I am the wife of a Saudi and I feel lonely, as if no one understands me. It is hard to find other Saudi wives who I can relate to. Plus I have a lot of questions and concerns but it is rare for me to meet any of them to discuss these personal matters I have. 

You are not alone, a lot of Saudi wives feel the same way that you do! Whether we live away from the Saudi community and feel isolated or live in Saudi Arabia and have transportation issues or simply too busy with house/family to socialize. If you are in Saudi Arabia, it is very important to have internet. It can be a lifesaver and curb some of that loneliness. Tara Umm Omar

I have a Saudi boyfriend. He is a student studying abroad. He has not told his family about me. He says that he wants to marry me but I don’t know if he will. Can you please advise me?

I do not judge but I give straightforward advice. I am a Muslim therefore I give advice based upon that. I assume your Saudi is Muslim and you are non-Muslim. Maybe you know this or maybe not, in Islam it is haram to have sexual relations before marriage and even some consider dating with no sexual relations to be haram also (I’m one of them).

It is a huge problem when Saudi men go to study abroad and take girlfriends who are non-Muslim and either do not know this fact or do not care about having sexual relations before marriage. They also do not know about the marriage permission requirement and that Saudi students can not marry while studying on government scholarships. The Saudi usually does not tell his family about his girlfriend because he knows that they will not approve or because he knows that he will end the relationship and go back to Saudi Arabia once his studies are completed. I really don’t know what your Saudi’s intentions are so you will have to discuss it with him.

Yet another problem is that Saudi men get the non-Saudi women pregnant and either ask her to abort the baby or simply leave her to deal with the pregnancy and birth alone with no future support whether it is emotional/financial. That is because an illegitimate child is frowned upon in Saudi society and he would not want the shame of people knowing his sin(s). Also it is because the Saudi will marry a Saudi woman approved by his family, usually a cousin or within his tribe.

I would advise you to ask questions of your Saudi, try to get a feel or his intentions and plans and be on your guard. If he evades your questions or makes light of them, for me personally, this would raise red flags. I don’t mean to cause suspicion but you need to protect yourself. I would encourage you to either end the relationship or get married so that your relationship will become halal in the eyes of Allah. I’m advising you this way even though I don’t know you because I don’t want you to get hurt. Tara Umm Omar

I am from an Eastern European country. I married my Saudi husband at the masjid in my country. He wants me to come live with him in Saudi Arabia on a work visa because he said that he can’t get the Saudi marriage permission. Is this the right thing to do?

Your husband must get the marriage permission approved if he wants you to live in Saudi Arabia legally with him. If you work here, you can’t be together since your marriage isn’t recognized by the Saudi government. Which means if the religious police or police find you together, your husband will be fined 100,000SR according to the new law, he could possibly be jailed, you would be deported and at the risk of being blacklisted from ever returning to Saudi Arabia. Allah forbid you get pregnant while you’re here, then the hospital could choose not to release you or the baby until your husband produces a valid marriage certificate approved by the government. The same consequences would apply as the above (fines, jail, deportation, blacklist). Plus maybe the baby would have to stay in Saudi Arabia since it would be considered Saudi while you would be kicked out of the country without your child! A Saudi child can’t exit Saudi Arabia without a valid Saudi passport. The passport office may or may not give the child a Saudi passport if the father can’t prove marriage to a non-Saudi that was sanctioned by the Saudi government. Your husband’s family would end up having to raise the baby. Should you exit Saudi Arabia to have the baby abroad before it is born,  you won’t be able to enter Saudi Arabia with the baby for the same reasons, no Saudi passport. Do it right from the beginning, trust me on this. Tara Umm Omar

I am a non-Muslim woman. I was intentionally impregnated by an Arab boyfriend and against my better judgement, married him. Things did not work out between us so we divorced. A Saudi man would like me to be his girlfriend because he said it would be difficult to get the marriage permission. I have a son and am no longer a virgin. Do you think his family would accept me?

A Muslim man can’t have a girlfriend, it is a big sin in Islam. I think you are being played for a fool because you are most likely non-Muslim. They take advantage of non-Muslim women because they think they are easy to bed since they don’t know about the marriage permission process or that Muslim men can’t have girlfriends and a sexual relationship before marriage. If you were to become romantically involved with him, you would be validating this stereotype. He does not honor or respect you if he wants you to be his girlfriend. I would never advise a woman to marry a Muslim man that wants this. Please don’t be blinded by infatuation, lust or so-called love. Arab men are very good sweet talkers, just remember your ex-husband when you were his girlfriend and how you were led to make a mistake. I would take your son and run. A respectful, honorable Muslim man would tell his family about a woman, apply for the Saudi marriage permission, marry and then have sexual relations with her in that order. That having been said, the Saudi man’s family would never accept for him to have a girlfriend in the first place as they barely accept for him to marry a non-Saudi woman. I don’t mean to be harsh, just trying to be realistic. Tara Umm Omar

I am a non-Saudi woman planning to marry a Saudi. I have a sexually transmitted disease. Will our marriage permission be denied because of that?

You both will be required to submit a medical test. Islamically, you have the moral obligation to tell your intended that you have a sexually transmitted disease. If he accepts it and still wants to marry you then alhamdullah. Here is the fatwa on marrying someone with a sexually transmitted disease called Hepatitis B http://islamqa.info/en/107785. I’m sorry but I have no way of knowing if your marriage permission application will be denied or approved as I do not work for the emarah or Ministry of Interior. Your Saudi will have to submit the paperwork and wait for the answer. Make du’a and put your trust in Allah. Billahi tawfiq. Tara Umm Omar

I have a son from a previous marriage. If I marry a Saudi, can I bring my son with me to Saudi Arabia?

I think if your marriage permission is approved and you complete the rest of the process to live in Saudi Arabia, you will have to get the permission of your son’s father that he can travel and live with you there. Then the Saudi Embassy can give your son a visa and place him under your Saudi’s sponsorship when applying for the iqamah or maybe it will have to be done once you are in Saudi Arabia. I am not sure. Best thing for you to do is contact the Saudi Embassy. Tara Umm Omar

If a Saudi man is 30 years old, is there a chance he will be approved for the marriage permission? If it is rejected, would he be allowed to re-apply?

The age requirement is set at 30. He can try to apply with a wasta or find a prince to approve the marriage permission. There have been Saudis who had their applications rejected, tried again and were successful. The key is not to give up hope and keep trying. Tara Umm Omar

What advice do you have for someone seeking the marriage permission?

There is so much advice that I can give you but time doesn’t permit. I would suggest that you read the articles on the blog as my advice is throughout most of them. Other than that, I would have to say patience and prayer. Tara Umm Omar

Can my Saudi fiance apply for the marriage permission without her mahram (guardian)?

Just as the Muslim woman needs her guardian to marry her according to Islamic law, she also needs a guardian to go with her to the emarah to apply for the marriage permission. A Saudi reporter and a non-Saudi man have both shared their marriage permission process details on FHWS and in each of their stories, the guardian accompanied the Saudi women. Furthermore, my husband had to do the same for two of his sisters (after getting custody of them from the father). Please note that before you can think about being approved for the marriage permission, you must have the marriage approval from the woman’s family. Unless something has changed recently, I guess you will just have to see for yourself. Your fiance can go to the emarah and the Ministry of Interior without her guardian, apply for the marriage permission and see what they tell her. Tara Umm Omar

I am non-Saudi. My Saudi married a Saudi because he didn’t want to go against his parents’ wishes. Do we have any chance of getting the marriage permit with me as his second wife?

The law now is that if a Saudi is already married to a Saudi and wants to marry a non-Saudi, he has to either get permission from her first or divorce her so that he can marry the non-Saudi. Tara Umm Omar

When the permission is approved and files are sent to the embassy of my choice, is there a time limit to them being finalized? What about the visa? How long does it take for the embassy to transfer the files back to the Ministry of Interior?

I don’t think there is a limit but I recommend getting it done as quick as possible. There is a limit on the visa, however, as it is only valid for three months. I don’t now how quick their turnover is…you will just have to wait and see. Call and check up on the status from time to time. Tara Umm Omar

Is it true that a Saudi must pay XX,XXX riyals to get the marriage permit?

No. But it sounds like somebody is trying to bribe him/her. Tara Umm Omar

What in your opinion is the general decision from a Saudi family about a their son marrying a non-Saudi?

Generally, parents are opposed to a Saudi marrying a non-Saudi but it is getting better little by little. The Saudi has to fight for his marriage otherwise…forget it. Unless he keeps the marriage a secret to avoid rejection and/or conflict. Tara Umm Omar

I am an Asian male who works in Saudi Arabia. I would like to marry an older Saudi woman. Do you think it is possible?

I have to be frank with you…it is hard but not impossible. It depends on various circumstances and each person’s situation is unique. The most difficult obstacle is getting her mahram to approve because he is the one who has to go with her to apply for the marriage permission. If you are successful with that then the rest should be easy insha’Allah. Tara Umm Omar

 

Save

Save